Qualified Interior Design Professional

I thought I would take this opportunity to advertise my services as an Interior Designer. If you enjoy my blog you would love my designs and my flexibility allows me to adapt to your needs and your style and most importantly, your budget. 

For those of you that don't know, my name is Mila, I live in Dartford, Kent with my fiancé and my gorgeous Beagle called Dash. Since we bought our house 2 years ago I have been dedicated to designing each room to our taste and making it beautiful and I want to do the same to your rooms making them perfect for you and your tastes.

I am in the process of developing my own business, so keep checking back for a gorgeous website, flyers, business cards and, of course, photos of completed successful projects! I am so excited to be working as an Interior Designer, I love nothing more than to see a room in need of change, sitting down and working out a brand new design adhering to the brief that the client has given me. Not only do I offer design services, I also have great contacts in the labouring, painting and decorating and handyman services - I've got you covered if you love my designs and you want me to help you implement them! 


If you are looking to hire an Interior Designer I urge you to contact me, tell me what you are looking for and I am sure I will be able to assist you at a great price, not to mention a fab range of free home goodies if you decide to go ahead with my design (whether its the first design or the thirty-first - but I assure you it wont take me more than one to get it right!)



The areas I cover are:
- Kent
- Essex 
- London 
- East Sussex 
- Oxfordshire
- High Wycombe
- Middlesex
- Windsor



So if you're in one of those areas and you think you could benefit from my services, please call! (if youre around one of those areas, give me a call anyway - I am sure I can work it out!)

I look forward to hearing from my potential clients - book your first consultation now!

Bye, Dolls xo

Mila
missinterior@outlook.com
07528 061 261

Home Office Heaven

As I am currently developing my business, I thought a topical blog post would be home offices. Two things to bear in mind are:
- you will be spending a lot of time in here (in my case, more 40+ hours per week)
- it is still a part of your home

So with these in mind, you need to think professional but comfortable, and it should always tie in with your home. It should also tie in with your profession, for example, my Interior Design business wouldn't exactly give the right impression with red walls, green patterned carpet and black furniture. If you are planning on inviting clients to your office (many decide to go to their clients rather than have clients come to their home) then you need to set the right impression with them. If your office looks untidy, unorganised and unprofessional, the chances are, your clients will think that you are too, and that that is the way you run your business. I have found some pictures of home offices that I think look good in terms of style, practicality, functionality and (most importantly) fashion!!

Have a look and let me know what you think!






This home office is a calming pastel green theme with wooden furniture. This type of desk is great because it has so much storage but it is compact. Perfect desk for the smaller room.











This is the perfect home office for a girly girl, especially if your profession is something arty and fun. It is enjoyable to work in, it's light and breezy with no dramatic or moody tones. A winner!















This home office is great for if you don't actually have an allocated room for your office. If you have unused space in your living room or space that you wouldn't mind using then a desk like this with lots of storage is the best deal.

This desk is the ideal desk. Ridiculous amounts of storage, plus plenty of surface space for any paperwork, computer and computing equipment. And what's more, it looks great!

This is such a small space, but you don't recognise that straight away because it is decorated impeccably. I love the art-deco style, the yellow, navy blue and stone grey look beautiful together. Perfect for all seasons.

Business

Instagram @_missinterior

Twitter @_missinterior

Personal

Instagram @princessbigbum

Twitter @princessbigbumx

Heavenly Hallways

Today I decided to blog about Heavenly Hallways. The hallway is important in the home because it is the entrance to the home which subconsciously sets the scene for the rest of the house. For example, if the hallway is unwelcoming and badly decorated, guests aren't likely to hold much hope for the other rooms, whereas if the hall is inviting and well designed, it often intrigues the guests and encourages them to wonder what the rest of the houses look like. 

Having a grand entrance also serves well for parties as it is somewhere that people can congregate on arrival for some pre-drinks or whilst waiting for entertainment to arrive.

I also like to think of the hallway as a gallery. As you can see, the one above looks rather Art Deco. It is a nice area to showcase paintings and pictures that people can stand and look at on entering your home. 

The hallway in most homes is the first place you go when you arrive and the last place you go when you leave, so make sure it is functional. A nice large mirror is always needed for last minute checks to hair and makeup! 

Hallways need good light. They often don't get much natural light other than through panels in the doors (if there are any) so it is important to have decent artificial light. Spotlights are good for this as they are subtle but practical, setting a nice mo

Stair lights are a good way to light up the hallway. For health and safety purposes there should always be an adequate lighting supply, however when it is night and only subtle light is needed, stair lights are a great idea.

Minimalistic hallways are always nice, it is best not to clutter them with paintings, photographs and statues, it can make guests assume that the rest of your house will be cluttered. 

                              

Making Smaller Bathrooms Work

                   

The layout of this bathroom is pretty standard. There is no wasted space yet it is not cramped. Generally people don't do makeup and hair in the bathroom anymore, these are now usually done in the bedroom or dressing room, so the common activities for the bathroom (brushing teeth, bathing, showering, using the toilet, washing etc.) all have plenty of room.

                   

This bathroom is beautifully designed considering its unconventional shape. Having a curved shower against a corner is a huge space saver. With all of the pieces in corners it opens up more space in the middle of the room for drying off from the shower and getting changed.

                   

Installing  a vanity unit not only saves space, it also creates storage and also it hides any ugy plumbing tubes or pipes. The storage is a big factor, because it allows any bathroom amenities to be stored away out of sight rather than cluttering the corners of the bath and sink. 

                    

I love this bathroom style, the monochrome colour scheme makes it look so modern and stylish. Also, as there is no window, you would think that having dark colours would make it dingy but the white suite brightens it hugely.

                    

The layout of this bathroom is, too, quite standard. Again there is ample room for the usual bathroom activities. The bath is a huge space saver as rather than having a single bath and a shower, they are together along one edge which is opening the space in the middle again. 

Showhome Style

Today I have been doing some research on showhomes and collecting some images that I thought I would post in my blog. I usually spend a lot of my time looking at real estate online, and as is obvious if you have read any of my blog posts, I love newbuilds. I jus think that there is nothing better than getting a completely blank canvas to make your own. Of course, for those who don't enjoy  Interior Design as much as we do, it is so much more desirable to just move in.

I've found some pictures to try and convince those people that there is so much to do with blank canvases, you just have to use your imagination...

I love this area. I am a huge fan of open plan so this really ticks a lot of boxes for me. Not only is it convenient for social occasions such as house parties and hosting dinners, but it is good from an architectural and design point of view also. It allows natural light to flood through the house, in this case from front to back. It is also efficient as it allows natural light to replace the need for artificial light as much as possible which will save costs.

This kitchen/diner is so light and breezy. It is such a calming and relaxing environment, the baby blue highlights the calmness which has to have a positive effect on the hectic mornings full of breakfast, making lunches and trying to get the kids ready for school!  It also makes it an enjoyable place to sit in, I would find myself socialising in there and also doing work in there and reading magazines etc.

This kitchen is designed to be more stylish than calming and relaxing, however using cream rather than white for the units makes it more calming than white units would. It is still a beautiful kitchen and also somewhere that I would find myself spending more time. Although not as big it has all the functionalities a kitchen needs. The spotlights also give a soft, luxurious feel which is especially nice when cooking at night.

To me this is the kitchen/diner that screams "SHOWHOME" the loudest. ,any people don't like this effect as they feel they can't mess it up and it looks a little too clinical, however i absolutely LOVE it! It is so stunning and perfect that I just feel like I would love to cook in there, it would be a pleasure. I think if you don't have a nice kitchen, you aren't going to enjoy cooking as much, just like if you have a gorgeous brand new car, you enjoy driving a lot more than if you have an old rubbish car!

I love how this is conveniently open plan. It has the potential to welcome privacy through the French doors, however when they are open it creates almost one large room which is extremely social and party-friendly. The decor is beautiful and is a huge inspiration to anyone who has a blank canvas.

The under-counter lighting creates a beautiful, soft touch which is a great effect in a kitchen. It softens the sharp edges and the clinical lines of the kitchen and blends the counters with the floor almost making it seem like it is floating. The natural light in this room is also great which makes it a nice place to eat breakfast in the mornings. 

The decor of this room is spot on. It looks so rich and modern,  but it also has the comfortable element  in that it is carpeted with a rug which helps insulate the heat in the room, and the room is not too big and spacious, it can still be comfortable and cosy.

This bedroom is absolutely stunning. It is so stylish and classy and you can tell a lot of thought, time and most likely money has gone into the design. The four-poster bed alone is luxurious enough, but if you look around, everything from the carpet to the curtains, the furniture to the artwork on the wall is high-end, top quality standard.

Wallpaper Wednesday!

Today's blog is dedicated to the beautiful thing that is WALLPAPER!

I LOVE wallpaper, I think it looks classy and stylish and it creates a glamorous, high-class atmosphere in a room. Sure you can accessorise walls with beautiful coloured paint and some amazing wall art, but I don't think there is anything like wallpaper. You can get wallpaper to go with anything, any colour and any style/theme and that is one of the many things I love about it! I have found some pictures online which I hope will help you understand why I love wallpaper sooooooo much.

This living room fascinates me! It is such a mismatch of colours, but it soooo works! There is an array of colours here, purples, greens, yellows, creams... Who would have thought that they could all go so nicely together? This is certainly a far cry from the strict monochromatic colour schemes I love, but I think this looks excellent! And as I said before, the wallpaper sets the scene, it looks so stylish and I am not sure the room would work so well without it. Plain cream walls would look good, but there is just something about a feature wall that makes a room work and this is proof of that!

.

This one is more my thing. Dark colours, especially blacks and greys, are a favourite of mine. Having a decent sized living room with large windows allows me to use these colours, but they don't alway work. Here, however, they work well. The green furniture adds some flavour to the otherwise dark and plain room, and it complements the wallpaper very well! I really like the contrasting colours used as I think it is good to use more than one colour (or hues of more than one colour) in one room, here it works perfectly!

.

This room reminds me of an art gallery! I love the minimalistic approach - I can't stand clutter! The colours go perfectly. I always find that one of the best colours to complement black with is red, I love that match. I love the sort of Art Deco feel, it is ultra-modern, light and airy and just looks fresh and comfortable at the same time. Showhome type rooms tend to be quite clinical and rather uncomfortable as image is prioritised over comfort, however this looks like a room that could be cosy on a cold winters evening. It has all the functions (or room for them) that a living room needs, somewhere to sit, somewhere to put your drink and plenty of space for a television and storage facilities. So much love for this room and its design!

.

I can't quite get my head around this design. I see what they are trying to do, but I am not sure about sandwiching floral wallpaper between stripy wallpaper, not to mention the contrast between the horizontal and vertical stripes. There is something that I like about it but I can't quite put my finger on it. I thought I should put a picture of wallpaper I wasn't sure of so as not to come across biased! I would be interested to know what you guys think of it? Is it just me who finds it a little odd?

.

In this room all of the walls are covered in wallpaper, but there is still a feature wall. The feature wall is the one with the patterned wallpaper. The others are covered in plain wallpaper which is still effective. I prefer it to paint as it seems more warm and inviting than paint which can create the effect of a cold wall. Wallpapered walls are rarely cold, and they tend to look more plush. I love the neutral colour scheme of this room, it is classy and elegant, but at the same time something you could get cosy in. 

.

This is one of my favourites. The elegant wallpaper looks rich and is just stunning. It goes perfectly with the rest of the room the furniture and accessories etc. It is typical show home style and that I love. It looks silky and warm which is so inviting and the colour is gorgeous. It is a classic feature wall and it works perfectly.

Taupe Tuesday!

Taupe - grey with a hint of brown

This post is dedicated to the neutral but classic colour scheme - taupe. I love this, because it is natural, goes with almost everything and still looks stylish and beautiful! I have found some pictures which highlight my love for taupe.

This room looks so grand and classic, yet it has an element of tradition to it. I think it is the flooring, because the wooden floor adds to the traditional look. I just love how well fresh white goes with taupe. I am usually a monochromatic person only using hues of one colour, nut I quite like this contrast and I think it goes really well!

This room is stunning, and the taupe is highlighted in the furniture and the flooring this time rather than the walls. The neutral, subtle colours are calming and serene therefore perfect for cosy, relaxing rooms such as living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms. This living room also looks classic however it is still ultra-modern and stylish which I love.

I love the decor in this room, and the access are beautiful. I love oversized pieces so the clock-style mirror was a huge win for me. Again the taupe has been mainly highlighted in the furniture rather than the wall coverings which works really well. I love the contrasting wooden table, again, coming away from the monochrome.

It isn't just the decor I love here, I love the idea! It is such a good way to save space and to organise your things without having to have them shut away. I like to have my functional objects out away, but when they are easy on the eye and actually quite stylish, why not have them in display? Stylish and practical!

Don't Be Scared of Studio!

For as long as I can remember, the thought of a Studio Apartment  - that's one room for all rooms (the bathroom is occasionally private!) has made me a little uncomfortable. I have never been a fan of small spaces, I like open plan, but it has to be large to compensate for the lack of division for the different activities that are carried out in each room. However, after some extensive research and polling I found that actually, studio apartments can work! All they need, is a personal touch. Maybe the touch of an interior designer! Check out the pictures below and see what you think of what I found during my research.

This is an image of a Studio Apartment in a complex of recently built luxury apartments called Beaufort Park in North West London. My fiancée and I had an apartment here, we lived in it for over a year, although we had a 2 bedroom, a lot larger than the Studios. Looking at the studio apartments, because they are so nicely done it almost takes away from the lack of space. The design is stunning in the show homes, and the blank canvas that you get if you purchase one of these apartments allows you to make of it what you wish. The amount of natural light helps light the room so much that it appears larger; throw in a couple of mirrors and a light, neutral colour theme and you can virtually add a good few square feet to the room. What you have to remember is that once your guests have left for the night, the room is yours again, and only yours (and whoever you choose as company) so that is when you can turn it from a living room into a bedroom, and it doesn't have to disrupt anyone elses living room activities. (What else changes other than a sofa into a bed? Not a huge change anyway!) Studio  apartments are designed for one, at a push two people, so there is no need to worry about the traffic flow in the room. it would be kept to a minimum as it is one space with few if any obstacles, and 1-2  people. If you look at this floorplan of a Studio Apartment (Apartment 1244) it shows the space used for dining, living, kitchen and bedroom. The bed is cleverly and stylishly hidden away, masqueraded as storage in beautiful white high gloss - it folds down to a double bed which fits beautifully in the space. there is still an element of a hallway, storage for laundry, kitchen space and furthermore the balcony adds extra seating space and is perfect for social events such as house parties and dinners. It is still within speaking distance but it is able to be closed off for smoking or privacy. It has everything you need to live, it is just more confined and compact than your regular house/apartment. I think that these types of apartments are perfect for students or young couples getting started on the property ladder. They are in high demand because not only are they cheap to buy, they are cheap to run. Think of how cheap the electricity will be, only having to light and heat one room rather than several. This is just one of the many benefits to having a studio apartment.


I love this Studio Apartment for many reasons. One is that it still has its defined sections despite being one big room. The kitchen is kept to one side of the room and is sectioned off with the bedroom being on the other side of the beam, set a little further back than the kitchen giving a bit of privacy to the bedroom area. The living area is in front of these two areas, in the middle of the room with the sofas acting as dividers to separate the kitchen and bedroom. I really like how this is set out because it provides strict sections for each area of the room but it is sociable for parties and dinners, and it is also functional because everything has its place and is exactly where you need it. The decorating is also very stylish, dark, which I usually wouldn't suggest for smaller spaces, but it works with the bright highlights such as the high gloss white kitchen, the accents such as cushions and bedding, and the mirror. It is very modern which I love.

I am absolutely in love with this studio apartment. in this case the bed folds out from the corner sofa - bar the bathroom, this is the only space in the apartment, with some storage along the wall of the camera's point of view. I love the decoration, it reminds me of an art gallery scene, it is very art déco  but very very modern and crisp - white everythere with hints of charcoal. The space is organised beautifully and logically - if you look carefully you can see the sink alongside the dining table. Everything is there it is just very compact, but I am coming round to this idea, although I could never see myself being comfortable in such a small space.

Studio Apartments Polls
I created a poll to see who was for and who was against studios. I was surprised by the result as I did it before I did my own research on studios and realised that they actually weren't a bad idea - the result now doesn't seem so shocking to me!

I asked: Do you think that Studio Apartments are a great way of compacting all living amenities?

The results were: YES - 74%          NO - 26%

I was shocked before doing my research - it just goes to show, you shouldn't judge a situation you know little about! I have learnt a lot and I must say my opinion has been changed. If you feel the same way I did and this hasn't changed your opinion, I suggest you have a look round some show homes which have Studio Apartments to view, this way you can see them in the flesh and their practicalities. That is what I did which helped me to understand how they are very functional!




Business
Instagram @_missinterior
Twitter @_missinterior

Personal
Instagram @princessbigbum
Twitter @princessbigbumx




Thanks, dolls!

xo

Too Much Space and No Idea How To Use It?

A lot of people would think that having a lot of space would be ideal. Loads of room to do anything you want, and it means more stuff! But for some, it is a burden because they just dont know how to use it. There is a difference between design and style. No matter what, everyone has style. Everyone's home is stylish, and this doesn't mean that they have had a top of the range Interior Designer do all the work for them, it means that style is subjective and individual. What is stylish to me may not be stylish for you. I can't stand Edwardian furniture, but for some people, that is their style. Design is different. Design looks at the practicalities of the home. The layout, the electrical points, the window and door positioning etc. So is a large open plan room a design fault? No. Because there are lots of ways that you can take advantage of the space.

I want to show you a few images I found on Google.

This room looks excellent. I absolutely love the decor, it looks great. I think that the colours go so well together, I love neutrals with a splash of black here and there, especially in the lighting. The small table in the middle with the seats is what makes the best use of the huge space, along with the sofas being out in the middle of the room rather than being pressed against a wall. Perfect!

 This property works so well with the open plan because it has a huge feature in the centre. It doesn't just have to be walls that separate rooms. Even standing dividers work really well. But this is practical, not only is it lovely to look at but it is also a seat! Extra seating means more social! Gorgeous.








This is the real meaning of open plan. 3 room in one and then a garden that can also become a part of it in the nice weather! I just love how this huge room is the absolute centre to this home. I can't think of anything more social. Nothing is pushed up against the wall which really makes great use of the space. Nothing worse than a huge empty floor in the middle of parallel, pushed back furniture! This isn't a huge home but this makes it seem bigger, as it is one big room as opposed to three small rooms. Open plan always wins it for me!!!

Lastly, I had to post a picture of this as I just love the contemporary look of the kitchen. The curved units are so modern and high spec that it is one of the best things you can do to a large kitchen. Rather than the conventional units around the wall and then occasionally a square/rectangular island in the middle, this is different and exciting. I personally love it, it gives the kitchen that feature that everyone wants but not all know how to achieve. Love this so much!



Let me know how you make the most of the space you have.

Until next time, Dolls xo

Mood Boards and Samples

So today I submitted an assignment that required me to use a Mood Board which is one of my favourite things to do, so I thought I would share with you my first ever Mood Board that I created for my first ever assignment for my Interior Design Diploma, we have all been beginners once!

I particularly enjoyed this one because it required me to look at my own home and re-design it (we didnt actually have to do it, but it did make me think about it!) So I went and got a tonne of samples from B&Q and Carpetright and a few other decor stores and began to plan my new hallway.

So at the moment it is black and silver throughout, all black gloss doors, bannisters and skirting boards, dark slate grey carpets and silver walls with all silver photo frames, 2x silver tables with a silver bowsl with black and silver pot pourri, a silver full body mirror, silver coats and hats hooks which spell the words coats & hats and black light shades upstairs and downstairs. So it is safe to say when I like a colour scheme I stick to it! So when I was asked to redesign the room, I had to think hard about a colour scheme that I could really get my teeth into, and I decided to go the complete opposite, from black and silver, contemporary and modern, to cream and gold, light and cosy.

As you can see from my Mood Board, I decided to go for cream carpet (Pearl) and I am choosing between patterned wallpaper and stripy wallpaper. As my hallway is quite long, although it is still quite wide, the length overpowers this, so I would like to widen it with horizontal striped wallpaper like the one I have put on my Mood Board which I love.

Let me know your thoughts, Dolls!









And don't forget to add me on Instagram and Twitter.


Business
Instagram @_missinterior
Twitter @_missinterior

Personal
Instagram @princessbigbum
Twitter @princessbigbumx

xo

My Diploma

I am doing my Interior Design Diploma through the Blackford Centre for Interior Design. It is a fantastic institution, they really help you through the process and I have so far enjoyed every minute of the course. Considering you do it from home you really do get a lot of help and assistance.

The course materials arrived the day after I enrolled and paid for it. A huge box full of exciting stuff! Two big folders with the Diploma Modules in and all the info, loads of helpful books and leaflets about starting your own business, paper, pencils, pens, graph paper, tracing paper, tape measure, ruler, folders and loads more. Even a little box of mints! It is so cool, as long as you have the space to put it in. My dressing room is slowly turning into an office! (I think we may be needing to look for a 4 bed pretty soon!)

The modules are really well set out. You do cover 99.9% of Interior Design in just 44 modules. The best thing is, there are 15 assignments to do during the course of the Diploma, and there are NO deadlines! That's right! You hand them in whenever you like, in whatever order you like!! It is so handy when you are as busy as I am, although I speed through it because I can't wait to get it done and start my business!

If you are interested in Interior Design you should definitely check out the Blackford Centre, it really is worth every penny.

www.inst.org/ID

See Ya, Dolls xo